Floribunda rose named &#39;Meiguimov&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Floribunda rose plant is provided which abundantly forms on a nearly continuous basis attractive white blossoms with pink suffusion having five petals and decorative stamens. The plant exhibits very strong vegetation, a bushy growth habit, dense dark green foliage with a glossy aspect, and good tolerance to Marsonia. The attractive dark green glossy foliage contrasts nicely with the light blossom coloration. The new variety is particularly well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in parks and gardens.

BOTANICAL/COMMERCIAL CLASSIFICATION

Rosa hybrida/Floribunda Rose Plant

VARIETAL DENOMINATION

cv. Meiguimov

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida Floribunda rose plant was created by artificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desired characteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was the product of the cross of the ‘Meidomonac’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 5,105) and the ‘Playboy’ variety (non-patented in the United States). The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the ‘Meinoiral’ variety (non-patented in the United States). The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows: (‘Meidomonac’×‘Playboy’)×‘Meinoiral’.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and small plants were obtained which were physically and biologically different from each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of a single plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new Floribunda rose plant of the present invention:

(a) exhibits a bushy growth habit,

(b) abundantly forms on a nearly continuous basis attractive white blossoms with pink suffusion having five petals and decorative stamens,

(c) forms dense dark green foliage having a glossy aspect that contrasts well with the light blossom coloration, and

(d) is particularly well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in parks and gardens.

The disease tolerance is good particularly with respect to Marsonia.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry and can be grown to advantage in the landscape where attractive ornamentation is desired.

The new variety can be readily distinguished from its ancestors. For instance, the ‘Meidomonac’ variety displays double medium pink blossoms. The ‘Playboy’ variety displays scarlet flowers with a pink eye, and the ‘Meinoiral’ variety forms considerably larger flowers.

The new variety has been found to undergo asexual propagation in France by a number of routes, including budding, grafting, and the use of cuttings. Asexual propagation by the above-mentioned techniques in France has shown that the characteristics of the new variety are stable and are strictly transmissible by such asexual propagation from one generation to another.

The new variety has been named ‘Meiguimov’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph shows as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same, in a color illustration of this character, typical specimens of the plant parts of the new variety. The rose plants of the new variety were approximately two years of age and were observed during June while budded on Rosa froebelli understock and growing outdoors at Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France. Dimensions in centimeters are indicated at the bottom of the photograph.

FIG. 1—illustrates a specimen of a young shoot;

FIG. 2—illustrates specimens of two floral buds before the opening of the sepals;

FIG. 3—illustrates specimens of two floral buds at the opening of the sepals;

FIG. 4—illustrates specimens of two floral buds at the opening of the petals;

FIG. 5—illustrates a specimen of a flower in the course of opening;

FIG. 6—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 7—illustrates a specimen of an open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 8—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—obverse;

FIG. 9—illustrates a specimen of a fully open flower—plan view—reverse;

FIG. 10—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing the arrangement of the stamens and pistils;

FIG. 11—illustrates a specimen of a floral receptacle showing the arrangement of the pistils (stamens removed);

FIG. 12—illustrates a specimen of a flowering stem;

FIG. 13—illustrates a specimen of a main branch;

FIG. 14—illustrates specimens of leaves with three leaflets—plan view—upper surface (upper right) and—under surface (lower left);

FIG. 15—illustrates specimens of leaves with five leaflets—plan view—upper surface (top right) and—under surface (bottom left); and

FIG. 16—illustrates a specimen of a leaf with seven leaflets—plan view—upper surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of the colors is that of The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart). The description is based on the observation of two-year-old plants during June while budded on Rosa froebelli understock and growing outdoors at Le Cannet des Maures, Var, France.

-   Class: Floribunda. -   Plant:     -   -   Height—approximately 60 to 90 cm on average at the end of             the growing season.         -   Width—approximately 60 to 90 cm on average at the end of the             growing season. habit—bushy. -   Branches:     -   -   Color—young stems: near Yellow-Green Group 146C and 146D. —             adult wood: near Yellow-Green Group 146C.         -   Thorns—on young stems: — small prickles: commonly absent. —             long prickles: — configuration: very elongated and curved             downwards on the upper surface, concave on the under             surface, and oboval at the base. — quantity: approximately 7             on average on a stem length of 15 cm. — length:             approximately 6 mm or more on average. — color: near             Yellow-Green Group 144A and 144B and amply suff-used with             Greyed-Red Group 178A. — on adult stems: — small prickles:             commonly absent. — long prickles: — configuration: very             elongated and curved downwards on the upper surface, concave             on the under surface, and oboval at the base. — quantity:             approximately 3 on average on a stem length of 15 cm. —             length: approximately 6 mm or more on average. — color: near             Yellow-Green Group 144B and amply suffused with near             Greyed-Orange Group 165B and Greyed-Red Group 178A. -   Leaves:     -   -   Stipules—adnate, pectinate, and broad.         -   Petioles—upper surface: near Green Group 137A in coloration.             — under surface: near Yellow-Green Group 146C in coloration.             — length: approximately 3.6 cm for the terminal leaflet.         -   Rachis—upper surface: near Green Group 137A in coloration. —             under surface: near Yellow-Green Group 146C in coloration.         -   Leaflets—number: 3, and most often 5 and 7. — shape:             generally elliptic with an obtuse base and a pointed tip. —             size: the terminal leaflets commonly are approximately 5.3             cm in length and approximately 2.6 cm in width on average. —             serration: small and single (as illustrated). — texture:             physically firm and thick. — general appearance: glossy,             dense, dark green, and relatively thick. — color (young             foliage): — upper surface: near Yellow-Green Group 146B and             sometimes margined with near Greyed-Red Group 178A. — under             surface: near Yellow-Green Group 146B and amply suffused             with near Greyed-Red Group 178A. — color (adult foliage): —             upper surface: near Green Group 137A. — under surface: near             Yellow-Green Group 146A. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Number of flowers—pluriflorous, and commonly 3 to 20             blossoms per stem.         -   Pduncle—glandular, pubescent, near Yellow-Green Group 146B,             approximately 6 cm in length, of sufficient strength to well             sustain the flower and approximately 2 cm in diameter.         -   Sepals—upper surface: smooth and near Yellow-Green Group             146D in coloration. — under surface: tomentose and near             Yellow-Green Group 144B in coloration. — configuration:             approximately 1.8 cm in length on average, and approximately             0.6 cm in width on average at the widest point.         -   Buds—shape: conical. — size: small. — length: approximately             1.6 cm on average. — width: approximately 0.9 cm on average             at the widest point. — color: — upper surface: near Red             Group 54C suffused with near Red Group 54B as the calyx             breaks. — under surface: near Red Group 54C and amply             suffused with near Red Group 54D as the calyx breaks. —             basal spot: near Yellow-Green Group 154D on both surfaces as             the calyx breaks.         -   Flower—shape: flat, cup-shaped. — diameter: approximately             5.4 cm on average. — color (in the course of opening): —             upper surface: near Red Group 56D and more or less suffused             with near Red Group 56B and 56C, and sometimes margined with             near Red Group 54B. — under surface: near Red Group 56D and             more or less suffused with near Red Group 56B and 56C, and             sometimes margined with near Red Group 54B. — basal petal             spot: very small and near White Group 155B on both surfaces.             — color (when fully open): — upper surface: near Red Group             56D and more or less sufflused with near Red Group 56B and             56C, and sometimes margined with near Red Group 54B. — under             surface: near Red Group 56D and more or less sufflused with             near Red Group 56B and 56C, and sometimes margined with near             Red Group 54B. — basal petal spot: very small and near White             Group 155B on both surfaces. — color stability: very slight             discoloration with age. — fragrance: none. — lasting             quality: the blossoms commonly last approximately 12 to 14             days on average on the plant, and approximately 7 to 10 days             on average when cut and placed in a vase. — petal number:             five under normal growing conditions. — petal shape:             cordate. — petal texture: consistent and somewhat firm. —             petal arrangement: imbricated; and without petaloids. —             petal drop: good with the petals commonly detaching cleanly.             — stamen number: approximately 121 on average. — anthers:             regularly arranged around the styles, approximately 0.2 cm             in size on average, and near Greyed-Orange Group 165B to             near Greyed-Orange Group 167B depending upon the level of             maturity. — pollen: present and near Greyed-Orange Group             167C in coloration. — filaments: approximately 1 cm in             length on average and near Red-Purple Group 58A in             coloration. — pistils: approximately 17 on average. —             stigmas: approximately 0.1 cm in size on average and near             Greyed-Orange Group 164A in coloration. — styles:             approximately 0.2 cm in length on average, and near             Red-Purple Group 60B in coloration. — receptacle: smooth,             pitcher-shaped in longitudinal section, approximately 0.6 cm             in length on average, approximately 0.4 cm in width on             average at the widest point, and near Yellow-Green Group             146B in coloration. — hips: generally pear-shaped,             approximately 1.2 cm in length on average, approximately 1             cm in width on average, and near Yellow-Green Group 146B in             coloration. -   Development:     -   -   Vegetation—very strong.         -   Blooming—early, abundant and nearly continuous.         -   Resistance to diseases—good, particularly with respect to             Marsonia.         -   Aptitude to bear fruit—sparse to medium. 

1. A new and distinct Floribunda rose plant characterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a) exhibits a bushy growth habit, (b) abundantly forms on a nearly continuous basis attractive white blossoms with pink suffusion having five petals and decorative stamens, (c) forms dense dark green foliage having a glossy aspect that contrasts well with the light blossom coloration, and (d) is particularly well suited for growing as attractive ornamentation in parks and gardens; substantially as herein shown and described. 